"I didn't want any hint of the contemporary look we had in our Gulf Coast beach cottage or the formal look we had in our Northeastern home," Barbara says. While Leet brought veteran architect Joe Rodriguez on board, the Drapers enlisted custom builder Rudy Brown. Together, they achieved the couple's desired look - a Mississippi-inspired Southern exterior with a 19th-century interior.

The Draper home took two years to complete — its successful design owed in large part to the collaboration between the homeowners and design team. “Mr. Draper doesn’t push to have things done fast,” Brown says. “He wanted them done right.” Therefore, every detail of the home was meticulously selected, including the bricks for the exterior, which were chosen for their color and character.